Long summer days, water and saunas

1. Stroll along Pohjoisesplanadi and Etelaesplanadi, a double boulevard adorned with a central park and numerous chic shops. Visit Kamp Galleria at Pohjoisesplanadi 33, a top elegant shopping gallery of designer clothes, gifts and more.

2. Enjoy a Finnish sauna inside one of Helsinki's top hotels. Saunas in Hotel Intercontinental, Hotel Kamp and Hotel Palace are open to non-residents.

3. Visit the Senaatintori (Helsinki's central square) ringed with 19th-century houses and the Russian-style Lutheran cathedral Tuomiokirkko. Walk southeast towards the Presidential palace, in front of which Helsinki's beautiful market square, the Kauppatori is a daily venue. From here, the view of the magnificent Uspensky Cathedral dominating Helsinki's harbour is breathtaking. Don't miss its interior architecture.

4. Walk along the Olympia ferry terminal that lines one side of the harbour. From here you can take a luxury ferry operated by the Silja Line to Tallinn or Stockholm. Look towards the other side of the harbour where you can't miss the red ships of the Viking Line.

5. Get on board a ferry to enjoy Helsinki's sights from the sea, visiting en route Suomenlinna's sea fortress or the idyllic town of Porvoo, a museum of preserved wooden houses.

Quick Tips:

1. The helpful Helsinki Tourist Information Office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19 gives information about Helsinki and sells the Helsinki Card. A booklet with details of the benefits to which one is entitled accompanies the Card. It is worth buying one because in addition to free transport, it gives free entrance to about 50 places of interest. Find more information at this website.

2. The Hotel Booking Centre is found in the west wing of the railway station. A fee is charged for booking a room but hotel rooms booked here are often discounted. Get more information from: hotel@helsinkiexpert.fi

3. Forex with branches at the railway station or at Pohjoisesplanadi 27 gives the best rate for the dollar.

4. Eateries in Helsinki offer top food and a friendly atmosphere. Two picks out of the best are Strindberg at Pohjoisesplanadi 33 and Kappeli at Etelaesplanadi 1. For a top pub in the city centre, head for Molly Malone's. "There are no strangers in Molly Malone's, only friends who haven't met," says the advertisement.

5. Helsinki is a paradise for nature lovers who shouldn't miss Helsinki's zoo on Korkeasaari island and the University botanical gardens at Unionkatu 44.

Best Way To Get Around:

1. Helsinki's airport is in Vantaa, 19kms north of Helsinki but easily accessible by Bus 615 which runs between the airport and the railway station.

2. Helsinki's centre is small and can be covered on foot. But visitors who intend using transport should know that a ticket is valid for 1 hour and allows transfers between bus, tram, metro and local train. Tickets can be bought either from R kiosks or from the driver at an extra cost. There are also tourist tickets for 1 day, 3 days and 5 days. Besides, regional tourist tickets for unlimited travel in Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa are also available.

3. Service to Tallinn is run by ferry companies operating from various terminals out of Helsinki's harbour.
(i) Silja Line from Olympia terminal
(ii) Linda Line/Tallinn Line Express from Makasiini terminal
(iii) Viking Line from Katajanokka terminal
(iv) Nordik Jetline from Kanava terminal

The trip by normal ferry takes almost 4 hours but Nordik Jetline operates a hydrofoil which covers the distance in 90 minutes. There’s more information at this website. Silja Line and Viking Line both operate services to Aland and Stockholm.

Having arrived in Helsinki at night without hotel booking, we made our way from the train station to the city centre as quickly as possible. Equipped with just a city map and a list of hotels that we picked from tourist brochures, we tried to find something within walking distance. The busy thoroughfare west of the station is Helsinki's main artery. Named Mannerheimintie, it extends across the centre passing close to hotels and numerous places of interest. After walking a short distance on Mannerheimintie, we came across Kalevankatu, a side street where Hotel Finn was supposed to be located.

After a couple of minutes walking along Kalevankatu, we succeeded in finding the hotel's name displayed on a plaque near the entrance to a huge block. We used the hall porter to ask for a room. Tired and desperate to find suitable accommodation, we readily accepted to take the elevator to the sixth floor where the reception area was located.

We were soon welcomed by an English-speaking receptionist who was kind enough to offer us coffee before accompanying us to our room. Having only the minimum of amenities, our room was small and crammed with simple furniture. The window overlooked an inner courtyard that was noisy and untidy. The redeeming factor was the super clean bathroom. All accessories were in tiptop condition; body soap, shampoo, skin lotion and daily clean towels were all available.

Hotel Finn is a budget hotel consisting of 7 singles, 15 doubles and 5 family rooms spread on 2 floors. It caters mostly for those who need budget accommodation in the city centre. To keep prices low, no breakfast is served here. Although there's a small lounge with tables next to the reception area, the hotel does not have a formal restaurant. However, this should not stop you from taking a room here since numerous eateries line the streets of the area. The nearby Forum shopping centre for example houses a vast choice of snack bars, fast-food outlets and restaurants.

Although Hotel Finn provides only basic accommodation, its location makes it ideal for those who want to spend a short holiday just a short distance away from Helsinki's main attractions. Senate square, Uspensky Cathedral, Pohjoisesplanadi, the market square and the south harbour are just a stone's throw away.

East of Helsinki, a small town worth visiting on a day trip is Porvoo. Constructed right on the shoreline, Porvoo can be reached easily either by ferry or by bus.

If you opt for the ferry, the M/S Runeberg departs from Helsinki's market square at 10am daily in summer. You can buy tickets either from the quay before departure or from the Tourist Information Office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19. If you prefer road transport, take a regular bus from the bus station at Salomonkatu where you can buy single way or return tickets.

The coastal town of Porvoo is prized for its rich historical heritage. Tiny medieval streets and intriguing alleys lined with timber buildings conceal fascinating cafes and tiny shops.

1. Stroll along the river embankment and peep inside the delightful little shops and craftsmen’s workshops. Here you can get acquainted with century-old Finnish trades which have somehow or other survived and are still being practised by craftsmen dressed in traditional costumes. Inside one particular workshop, don't miss seeing the handmade production and finishing of pipes. You can of course buy a couple of genuine souvenirs from Porvoo to take back home.

2. Don't miss the Town Hall square and the home of the Finnish national poet J.L. Runeberg. There's not much to see inside but the building itself is a preserved example of fine architecture unique to the city.

3. Take photos of the unique red timber houses that line the river. When the sun is setting, their reflection in the water is a picture you would long remember. Some of these have now become tourist attractions and have opened for visitors. Notice their unusual architectural style and their untouched century-old interior decor.

4. Have a coffee inside one of the atmospheric cafes which you'll find tucked away along the city's tiny walkways. Besides coffee and pastries, these provide what cafes in Helsinki lack: a traditional village-like atmosphere and a personalized service. While enjoying your cup in a serene ambience, you'll have the opportunity to make new friends who like you are craving for peace of mind away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Shopping in Helsinki is like nowhere else. The items for sale inside the city's covered market halls are unique as are the artistic or traditional handicrafts which you can buy from design houses in Unionkatu, Aleksanterinkatu and Pohjoisesplanadi.

The first shopping spot that catches your eyes on approaching Helsinki's busy south harbour is the Kauppatori, an open market square where locals look for a choice of fresh fish, organically grown vegetables, oven-fresh bread and top quality handicrafts. In summer, this daily market becomes one colourful venue of stalls covered with bright orange parasols. Walk amidst the crowds of buyers and discover for yourself the wide range of items offered for sale. In particular, don't fail inspecting the section dedicated to Finnish handicrafts. Expect to find an abundance of handmade articles in wood that are ideal to take back home as souvenirs.

From the Kauppatori, walk south for 100 metres along the pier in the direction of the Makasiini ferry terminal to reach the Kauppahalli or covered market hall. With a better display and a wider range of foodstuffs, the Kauppahalli is a top place for traditional specialties and Finnish delicacies. Seafood is abundant and various; you can buy it fresh or already cooked, smoked or fried, battered or marinated. Do not be put off if this is your first time in such an unusual food market. Everything is top quality, clean and tasty. Try marinated brown trout or fried whitefish. Those more adventurous should look for stuffed salmon steak, a unique Finnish delicacy with a peculiar taste.

For more foodstuffs, head to the Hakaniemi market hall north of the railway station or the open market next to it. More fresh fish and similar Finnish delicacies are displayed both in the open market and in the stalls on the ground floor of the market hall but the quality may not be as good as in the Kauppahalli. On the first floor however, the shops which deal in ceramics, textiles, handicrafts and souvenirs are much better, although the prices are far cheaper than those you have to pay if you buy from shops along Pohjoisesplanadi or Etelaesplanadi.

If you're a collector of anything, the Hietalahti daily flea market is the place to go for making interesting finds and good bargains. From Mannerheimintie, walk southwest along Lonnrotinkatu for about 500 metres until you reach the Hietalahti market on Hietalahdenkatu. Stamps, coins, badges, army memorabilia, wooden souvenirs and leather handicrafts are all found here. You may even come across a genuine Russian icon for which of course you have to pay dearly.

Besides markets, there are many shopping centres and department stores scattered around town. The world-renowned Stockman at Aleksanterinkatu 52 is the most versatile and perhaps the most exclusive department store in the Nordic countries. The Kiseleff Bazaar, a charming shopping gallery on Senate square at Aleksanterinkatu 28 is a treasure trove of gifts, Finnish handicrafts, toys by Fanny and Alexander, hand printed textiles, silk scarves, knitwear, Christmas decorations, jewellery of unique Finnish design and collectors' items. It is really worth a visit even if you don't intend to buy. The elegant shopping arcade Kamp Galleria at Aleksanterinkatu 42 or Pohjoisesplanadi 33 takes first prize for designer fashion and gift articles. Marimekko which has one outlet inside Kamp Galleria and others along Pohjoisesplanadi and Etelaesplanadi is the best known Finnish brand name for fabrics and gifts while Aarikka at Pohjoisesplanadi 27 is the top place for wooden and silver jewelry and unique wooden gifts of great artistic value. For unusual items of purely Finnish origin and design, visit the Kankurin Tupa at Pohjoisesplanadi 35, a unique shopping outlet which deals in traditional 'puukko' knives and handmade clothing. For artistic 'rya' rugs either of contemporary or traditional design to hang on the wall of your sitting room, go to Ryijypalvelu at Kasarmikatu 34A.

In Helsinki, shopping is made easier if you visit factory outlets which often double as exhibition centres and shops. Aarikka's factory shop where wooden gifts are manufactured and sold is located at Nokiantie 2 while Hackman Arabia factory shop at Hameentie 135 is the best place to see design products in china and glass in their final manufacturing stages. If you are ready to pay top prices for genuine antiques, visit the couple of excellent antiques shops along Mariankatu or the cluster of shops along Annankatu, Uudenmaankatu and Fredrikinkatu.

Enjoy shopping in Helsinki!

If you intend to take your next summer holiday in Helsinki, why don't you do as the Finns do? For a Finn, a relaxing holiday means spending a couple of summer days away from it all beside a lake or the sea having a sauna and a rowing boat at his disposal. All this is now possible and it has never been as easy as it is nowadays. Just visit the Helsinki Tourist Information Office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19 (Tel: 1693757) or the Finnish Tourist Board at Etelaesplanadi 4 (Tel: 41769300). Once you choose your destination, location and the type of cabin required, everything will be arranged for you.

The basic amenities of all holiday cabins include a stove, a grill, cooking utensils, cutlery and blankets. Most cabins are also equipped with a shower, a dishwasher and a microwave oven. You have to bring your own towels and bed linens though it is possible to hire these on the spot for an extra charge. The cheapest weekly rent for a cabin is about US$500, but you can get a simple hut with minimum amenities for as little as US$250. Farmhouse holidays, either on a half-board or a full-board basis are also possible. Farmhouses are usually traditional dwellings in the countryside equipped with all modern conveniences and comforts. You stay with a family eating traditional Finnish homemade cooking but at the same time having ample time to relax and enjoy your surroundings. You can take part in numerous physical activities such as swimming, fishing, berry picking, canoeing or rowing.

A number of natural conservation areas have been set up throughout Finland with the aim of protecting the forests and the lakes, some of them close enough to Helsinki as to be accessible in a couple of hours or less. There are 32 national parks scattered around Finland and eight hiking areas, the latter provided with walking trails, campsites, fishing areas and cabins for hikers.

The national park closest to Helsinki and actually on the outskirts of the capital is Nuuksio, a natural spot of area 31 square kms. From Helsinki's bus station, it can be reached by frequent bus in half an hour. A haven of birch and pine, this park is ideal for a day of walking. Provided with clearly marked paths and beautiful resting areas where you can even light a fire, this park is a paradise for those who are looking for a pollution-free environment. Liesjarvi with area 7 square kms and Torronsuo with area 25 square kms both located northwest of Helsinki are 2 other national parks that attract nature lovers for their richness of bird life and their vast stretches of spruce, birch and pine. You can pick berries or mushrooms anywhere in the parks but take care to upset the environment as little as possible.

The only hiking area that can be reached easily in about an hour from Helsinki is located southwest of the capital. Called Teijo, it has an area of 23 square kms and 40kms of marked trails. It is close to the town of Salo, a fertile region of untouched forests and clean lakes. You can move about anywhere in the area and use your own camp to stay overnight. You can hire a tent if you like or stay inside one of the comfortable huts available. Sarkisalon Lossitupa, an agency which rents out huts with full amenities is highly recommended. Teijo is a hiking paradise that caters also for the physically handicapped. With suitable paths and convenient resting places, it is ideal for those who are constrained to use a wheelchair.

Where in the world can you still enjoy the freshness, purity, and peace of mind nature offers so close to the capital? Nowhere except around Helsinki.